Workmen's advocate., 1887-04-02

the best of will,cannot procure any work at all, and the vast majority of those who have work are dependent on the good will of some master for their means of subsistence. Are such men free: Hunger fastens the worker tighter to his master than the strongest chain ever did Under Socialism every one will be- | come truly free. because independent.
 Malthus wrote. "the man born whose family cannot support him, or whose labor is not in demand. has not the least right to a living; for him there is no cover laid at natures table" Socialism 'cW loy C cocer for ereiY one n uot'ues tnble.
 And as remarked by John Stuart Mill, ''whose work is only nominal receives the greatest share; he who works most, the smallest share" SociaiiSm WW re- rerSe HiS.
 Gladstone said that in the eight years from 1853 to 1861 the taxable income of England increased twenty per cent. And he added; 1t is almost incredible, this wonderful increase of wealth and power is exclusively confined to the propertied classes. Asthen in England, so 1t is now all over the civilized world. Under Socialism it is the working class es, if there then will be any such, who will increase in wealth and power.
 In other words; Our present social order is based on injustice. From this injustice issues all the caamties that atflict us-crises, strikes, prostitution, ignorance, crime. The object of .SOcinliSm iS ,jnstice.
 The mednS by which Socialism is going to realize this object is that the commu- nity-and by community is understood the nation, the county, the city, the township, the village, each in its proper sphere-shall gradually and whenever practicable take possession and become the owner of all the means of labor. That, in other words, the community shall in Lhe fullnesS of time become the only employer, the only manufacturer, the only merchant prince, the sole land owner and the sole railroad king
 Then, and not till then, will there be any harmony between the Capitalist and the Laborer. Then the national wealth, now monopolized by a handful of individuals will be truly "national.' Then, instead of being the servant of a master every one will be his own en- ployer. Then there will be no crises, no ''overproducton.' Then machinery will be a common blessing.
 But can the community be made the sole owner and the sole employer? It not only can, but it WW As surely as the earth revolves on it's axis it will, whether we wish it or not Socialism is not system invented and patented by anybody. IL has simply discovered the laws that govern the development of mankind. As its object is based on jus tice, so the Wdy 10 Gttdin # is bused on scjeHifc buths. Mankind has never been standing still, bat as a whole has steadily advanced. Yet everybody can see that all over the civilized world the rich are becoming richer and the poor poorer. That means that all capital is being concentrated ill fewer and fewer hands, and will end in being concentra- ted in one hand-that of the community. Production is carried on more and more in wholesale means that at some time production will take place on the largest possible scale; that is, the nation shall take charge of it. In short, erpand the present system suD'cieHtly, aud ne hare the SOcialitic Commonwealth. When that time comes, then the great est revolution on record is accomplished When will that happen? We cannot tell. We only know that this end is not distant We are travelling towards it with railroad speed. Socialists do not propose to make revolutions Our work is only to further that development by removing the obstacles in the way; and one of the greatest obstacles is ignOrdnce If ignorance could be dissipated during next week, we would commence to in- augllrate the Socialistic State the day after